Australia Breaks New Ground as Healy Has One Peak Left to Climb.
It's tough for the Australian squad to break new ground.
The greatest achievements have long been mastered.
We're talking about the team that has claimed seven Cricket World Cups, in addition to six more T20 titles, and previously enjoyed over three years undefeated in 50-over cricket.
The secondary achievements, targeted by the record chasers, are what's still available for a team that has accomplished all there is.
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The fact it required up to Sunday's three-wicket win over India for them to complete their first ODI chase over 300, reclaiming their record for the highest in the women's 50-over format, is, honestly, a compliment to the bowling attack that have worn canary yellow over five decades.
It's difficult for their batsmen to possess a record if never given the chance.
Finally, the result of Australia giving up 330 runs was leader Alyssa Healy getting a platform to produce her most recent brilliance.
Initially recognized as the young family member of renowned former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian, she debuted in 2010 after her country failed to win either of the T20 or ODI World Cups conducted earlier and has witnessed all through 15 championship-filled years since.
A T20 championship victory came three months after her debut and seven global championships have followed from 10 attempts across formats.
The determined wicketkeeper was also there in Derby in 2017 when a semi-final setback by India briefly halted the successful run.
That loss "motivated us to reevaluate our levels," Healy commented earlier.
At the next 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, Healy hit 170 against England in the championship match and was declared player of the series. She ensured her country would not come up short.
If this recent magnificent innings surpassed that earlier display is debatable.
Some will argue the reasoning behind final game tension. Some might respond with the test that comes when pursuing an unprecedented total and a raucous India-supporting crowd of 20,000.
What's definite is this hundred was much more difficult to anticipate.
The New Zealand onslaught in 2022 happened while she topped the run-scoring charts, but this knock followed six innings in India over the past few weeks in which she had been unable to reach 30.
"If you've been watching me in practice sessions, it's been a frustrating experience because it appeared my form was missing whatsoever," said Healy.
"But once you take the field, your competitive instincts kick in and you simply focus on the contest."
Healy's competitiveness has consistently been her major advantage - and an invaluable trait in taking over from legendary former captain Meg Lanning.
She was challenged by India's emerging talent Kranti Gaud in the previous month's ODI series, out to the young fast bowler in every game, but here that only provided Healy's spark.
A single was taken off the opening delivery and from that point the right-hander was underway.
"A chance to play and engage in competition with her and just have a bit of fun in that regard, kind of motivated me," said Healy.
She achieved fifty in 35 balls - her fastest at the global tournament - and her century in 84 as she attacked short-pitched balls, hitting 21 fours and three sixes.
When she was out Australia needed 66 more at a run-a-ball - a manageable total now demanding an easy conclusion.
"Pursuing 330 is unfamiliar ground so I am glad we have the belief to accomplish that now," added Healy.
"Ideally we won't need to repeat it but, if we do, we know we can do it."
That comment will be the ultimate thing rival teams at this championship should hear.
During the last week a sense they will triumph from any situation has grown stronger - this triumph coming after victory over Pakistan by 107-run victory despite sitting at 76-7 at a certain moment.
Next Australia play Bangladesh before a match against old rivals England in Indore in ten days, by which point a last-four spot may probably be guaranteed.
During that phase they were eliminated from the previous year's T20 World Cup in an unexpected loss by South Africa - an encounter Healy missed because of torn tissue in her foot as she captained her nation for the inaugural occasion at an important competition.
Such is her determination, she afterwards commented she regretted not playing through the pain.
Yet even as she afterwards confessed those fitness problems have pushed back consideration of ending her career, this World Cup is expected to be her concluding event as leader in ODI cricket and she is yet to win an international tournament as leader.
Success in India would bring her to the top of her last major obstacle.